At a press conference held in Radisson Hotel Sofia today Rila Sport announced plans to build an environmentally friendly ski resort named Panichishte-The Lakes-Kabul.

The company intends to invest some 140 mln leva (71.5 mln euros) in the development of a green ski-resort in the region of Panichishte in The Rila Mountain. According to experts the total costs may reach 900 mln leva (460 mln euros).

The resort will feature some 100 km of ski runs and climbing areas, 3 snowboard parks, a biathlon track and areas for children.

It will be able to accommodate 10,000 people, the lodgings will be situated primarily in the village of Panichishte. The establishment of the resort will in no way harm nature in the Rila Mountain, the company stated. The project will contribute to the development of the region as whole.

The investors expect the resort to be completed by 2016.

There are a total of 200 km of ski runs in Bulgaria currently and 50 lifts, while in Austria, for example, there are some 20,000 km of ski runs and 5,700 ski lifts. Bulgaria is also seriosuly lagging behind Switzerland, Germany and France in these terms.

The investors' objective is to turn Rila into one of the top 10 destinations for ski tourism in Europe, which will greatly contribute to the national economy as a whole. They are also aiming at creating the most environmentally friendly resort in Bulgaria.

Experts from Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners Ltd have been engaged in the planning of the ski runs. The company has a long experience in the filed. Its projects have hosted 4 Winter Olympic Games. Their excellent work was one of the main advantages for which Sochi was elected to host the 2014 Olympics.

No vehicles will be admitted in the resort. The lodgings will only use biofuel.